Old Man River’s expected crest has continued to rise, and Mississippi Levee Board officials say they still don’t foresee any issues as a result of the water levels.
The river is expected to crest at 47 feet, which is one foot under the 48-foot flood stage, on March 31.
“The Mississippi Levee Board does not anticipate any problems or issues at these near Flood Stage levels,” Nimrod said.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the river was at 46.3 feet on the Greenville gauge. On the riverside of the levee, Lower Lake Ferguson Road is flooded and Warfield Point Park began flooding at 45 feet.
Nimrod said this event isn’t expected to cause any issues on the protected side of the levee.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has also raised the Yazoo Backwater forecast, which is now predicted to crest between 90 and 91 feet before the gates can reopen.
The Steele Bayou Structure Gates were close Monday, March 15.
As of Tuesday, the Backwater was at 88.2 feet. At 88.2’ there are 232,000 acres of land flooded, including 48,000 acres of crop land.
“If the Yazoo Backwater Pumps were in place, they would be pumping,” Nimrod said.
Once the Mississippi River crests, it will then drop 1 foot and hold for 10-14 days until it finally starts to fall in three weeks.
Once the Backwater reaches 90-91 feet, there will be 307,000 acres flooded, including 83,000 acres of crop land.
